Ruan Jian stood in front of them.
He had come up the stairs. A strange, cold smile rested on his face—as though he had been deliberately waiting for this moment.
The instant Anya saw him, a tremor ran through her body. Panic seized her. A deep pain and fear surfaced in her eyes—the kind that rises when old wounds are ripped open again.
Zayn, who had only moments ago been holding her close, saw that flicker in her gaze. But he misunderstood it.
He thought she was moved by Ruan's presence.
A poisonous sting pierced his heart.
Zayn (inwardly): Is it still there? Is there still a place for him in your heart? Does one glimpse of him hurt you more than my closeness ever could?
Zayn's Shift
Abruptly, Zayn removed his hand from Anya's waist. The warmth in his expression vanished, replaced by stone-cold silence. He swallowed—but this time, the taste was bitter.
Ruan Jian stepped forward, his eyes locked on Anya's.
Ruan Jian: "Anya, the pain in your eyes… it proves you haven't forgotten that night. Is this 'shackle' giving you the peace you were searching for?"
Anya tried to speak, but her throat tightened. She wanted to tell Zayn that this wasn't love—it was fear. The fear of betrayal. But Zayn had already withdrawn.
Zayn (in an icy, clipped tone): "Mr. Ruan, what are you doing on my floor?"
Without another glance at Anya, Zayn turned and strode toward his cabin. His steps carried anger—and fracture.
Anya's Helplessness
Anya remained standing near the elevator.
Ruan moved closer and whispered softly:
Ruan Jian: "See, Anya? He doesn't trust you. He thinks you still belong to me. And the truth is… you always will."
Anya turned to him with such naked hatred and contempt that Ruan's smile froze in place. There was no lingering love in that look—only revulsion.
Without uttering a word, she stepped into the elevator.
Inside the Cabin: A Cold Silence
Zayn sat behind his massive desk. His eyes were lowered toward the files before him—but his hands were trembling. The tension in the room was suffocating.
He leaned his head back against the chair and closed his eyes. He looked exhausted. Broken.
Kiyan (gathering courage): "Sir… Anya ma'am was telling the truth. What you saw in her eyes—it wasn't love. It was the wound of betrayal Ruan gave her."
Zayn slowly opened his eyes. A thin sheen of moisture lingered there, though he tried to hide it.
Zayn (in a heavy, fractured voice): "I know, Kiyan. I know everything. I want to erase that past—the one where she only found pain. I want that whenever she closes her eyes, she remembers only me… but I can't."
He stood and walked toward the window. The city below looked small from that height.
Zayn: "Because the truth is… I've given her nothing but pain too. I punished her for something she never did. I threw her into the fire of my revenge. And now, when I want to love her… I'm afraid even my shadow might wound her."
Kiyan remained silent. For the first time, he saw the so-called "stone-hearted emperor" defeated by his own soul.
Gossip on the Floor
As Anya walked toward her desk, the office girls and staff surrounded her. Their eyes sparkled with gossip.
Colleague 1: "Anya, come on, tell us the truth! Who's your boyfriend? Is he really as 'dangerous' as you said?"
Colleague 2: "And what's going on between you and Mr. Ruan Jian? He was looking at you like you're his whole world!"
Anya's mind was already overheated from the tug-of-war between Zayn and Ruan. Irritated, she dropped her bag on the desk and blurted out without thinking:
Anya (loudly): "Why don't you guys understand? Ruan is my past. There's someone else in my life now—and he's not my boyfriend, he's my husband—"
The moment the word husband escaped her lips, silence fell over the entire floor.
Mouths hung open.
Huan Jing (lunging forward instantly): "H—h—husband-like boyfriend! Yes! That's what she meant!"
Jing clamped both hands over Anya's mouth. Anya's eyes widened as she struggled, muffled sounds escaping her.
Jing glared at her wildly, signaling: Stay quiet or we're both unemployed today!
Huan Jing (laughing nervously): "Hahaha… you guys! She's lost it from overwork. She meant her boyfriend is husband-material. You know—caring and possessive!"
The employees still looked skeptical.
One employee: "But she clearly said 'husband'…"
Huan Jing (dragging Anya away): "Slip of the tongue! She must've watched some emotional drama last night. Go back to work! If the 'real' boss—Zayn—comes out, he'll cut off both 'husband' and 'boyfriend'!"
She pulled Anya away, while Anya struggled to free her mouth.
Ruan Again
As soon as Anya broke free, she found Ruan standing directly in front of her.
He crossed his arms and tilted his head.
Ruan Jian (slow and cutting): "So… congratulations, Anya. You have a 'boyfriend'? I thought you still spent your nights in darkness waiting for me."
Anya didn't stop. She lifted her chin and poured pure hatred into his eyes. She stepped forward, forcing him back slightly.
Anya (with an icy smile): "Thanks, Mr. Ruan. But keep your advice to yourself. And from now on, maintain a distance of 100 feet from me. Otherwise, I'll tell the whole office you're a man chasing a woman you threw away like trash years ago."
The Cat's Claw
Before Ruan could reply, Anya stamped her right foot hard on the floor near his shoes—thud!
She narrowed her eyes and gave him a dangerously stylish wink.
It wasn't flirtation.
It was a warning.
Stay in your limits—or I'll ruin you.
Ruan froze. He had never seen this fearless version of her.
Huan Jing (placing a hand on Anya's shoulder): "Got it, Mr. Ex-Boyfriend? Anya isn't not love you anymore. Now she has the shadow of a real man—Zayn. Consider this chapter closed. The next page might cost you dearly."
Jing walked away with Anya, leaving Ruan standing there, fists clenched, face burning with rage.
Surveillance from the 50th Floor
From the 50th floor, Zayn Yan had witnessed everything—the way Anya confronted Ruan, the confident wink.
He set down the glass of liquor in his hand.
For the first time, pride curved his lips.
Zayn murmured, "My wild cat… you've learned to hunt."
Confrontation at Sunset
As the evening sun painted the floor in orange light, Zayn stepped out of his cabin. Ruan emerged from the shadows.
Ruan Jian: "Mr. Yan, a moment. Aren't you being a little too kind to your employee Anya? How will your wife—Mrs. Yan—feel when she hears about this affair?"
Zayn stopped. Turned. His gaze was glacial.
Zayn: "Ruan, stay in your limits. Focus on office work. Don't pry into my personal life."
Ruan Jian (laughing, stepping closer): "How can I? My ex-girlfriend is now your wife."
Zayn froze.
In a flash, he grabbed Ruan's collar and slammed him against the wall.
Zayn (roaring): "How do you know? Who told you?"
Ruan Jian (careless): "Forget what I know. The truth is—you've locked my Anya in your golden cage. She still loves me. And I'm here to take her back. She isn't yours. She's mine."
At the words she's mine, Zayn's restraint shattered.
He punched Ruan hard across the face. Blood spilled from Ruan's lip—but his smile deepened.
Zayn (growling): "Don't take her name with your filthy mouth again! She is my wife—my pride. I will blacklist you from this industry!"
Ruan Jian (mocking laugh): "Blacklist me? You forget—if Anya finds out you married her only to take revenge on her uncle… will she stay with you even a second?"
Zayn's raised fist froze mid-air.
The memory of that night flashed—the night he had treated her like a pawn.
Ruan took advantage and struck Zayn's jaw.
Ruan Jian: "You ruined her life, Zayn! What's the difference between us? I left her. You trapped her with deception!"
Zayn steadied himself, eyes blazing.
He seized Ruan's shirt again.
Zayn: "Don't threaten me! I know every dark secret of you and the Dragon King. The shadow that strikes from hiding—his real identity is in my pocket."
Ruan Jian (locking eyes): "You don't know everything. If the real reason I left Anya comes out… you'll push her away yourself."
Kiyan's Intervention
They were seconds from tearing each other apart when Kiyan rushed in, pale with alarm.
Kiyan: "Stop! Boss… Mr. Ruan! Anya ma'am is coming! She's about to step out of the elevator!"
At her name, their rage evaporated instantly.
Zayn released Ruan. Ruan straightened his shirt. Both wiped the blood from their faces.
Zayn and Ruan (simultaneously): "Where is Anya?"
They shot each other looks of hatred.
Kiyan exhaled in relief.
Anya was actually downstairs at her desk. He had lied—to stop them.
Zayn (glaring): "How dare you use her name to stop us?"
Ruan Jian: "Yes! Don't even take my Anya's name on your tongue!"
For one brief moment, enemies stood united—on one point only.
Anya's safety.
Zayn rolled down his sleeves and gave Ruan one final warning:
"Today you're saved—because I don't want her to see you like this."